Empathising with the suffering of all sentient beings, the Buddha came to our world to teach people how to transcend both that suffering, and the cycle of birth and death. His goal was to enable all beings to understand his teachings and to, thus, become enlightened. In our Dharma Ending Age, our strong negative karma is creating many obstacles to our practice. Lacking wisdom and good fortune, it is extremely difficult for us to find a good teacher who can guide us and properly explain the Buddha¡¦s teachings. Knowing this, the Buddha taught a special method for the beings of our time - the Pure Land method.

This is a translation from a Chinese book of similar title written by Reverend Xing Yun. The following is only about ten percent of the entire book. There are many other interesting stories in the book.

Thirteenth Patriarch of the Pure Land school
Whether a layperson or a monastic, we need to respect those who are older than we are and to exist harmoniously with those around us. We are to endure what others cannot and practice what others cannot achieve. We should do all we can on behalf of others and help them to be good. When sitting quietly, we would do well to reflect on our own faults. When talking with friends do not discuss the rights and wrongs of others.

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes f-rom ‘budhi’, ‘to awaken’. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism — called the Dhamma, or Truth — until his death at the age of 80.

Narrator: The third lesson taught us the ways to accumulate kind deeds. Naturally, it would be best if people would practice kindness, but as humans, we are social beings. It is impossible not to encounter others; therefore, it is important to know the ways to improve ourselves when interacting with others.

1. In the recent era, Buddhism has declined. This is primarily caused by the lack of Dharma lecturers and practitioners, and by not having enough qualified Dharma protectors. Thus, all Buddhists wish for talented and educated people who are trained in the teachings, and to have a true cultivation centre. This has been a long-held wish of Master Chin Kung as well.